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| Royal Navy ship helping to evacuate Britons from Libya | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A Royal Navy survey ship is evacuating Britons from Libya amid worsening violence in the country, the BBC understands. | |
| People are being taken to HMS Enterprise as it awaits offshore. | |
| The Foreign Office previously urged British people to leave the country immediately and is temporarily closing its embassy in the Libyan capital. | |
| The MoD said the government was helping to "provide assisted departure for a number of UK nationals". | |
| 'Hundreds of Britons' | 'Hundreds of Britons' |
| Some 108 people have registered to leave on board the ship. Not all of those registered are British - they are are said to include two Irish citizens and one German - and they are not thought to be diplomats. | |
| The Enterprise is expected to set off for Malta - once everyone arrives on board. | |
| Its departure is not considered a rescue mission as there are still commercial means to leave Libya. | |
| The country has been gripped by instability and a power struggle among rival groups since the overthrow of former leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. | |
| Fighting between rival militias - one established by the outgoing parliament and one controlled by the defence ministry - has spread northwards in the capital in recent days. | Fighting between rival militias - one established by the outgoing parliament and one controlled by the defence ministry - has spread northwards in the capital in recent days. |
| More than 200 people have been killed in Tripoli and the eastern city of Benghazi in the past two weeks. | More than 200 people have been killed in Tripoli and the eastern city of Benghazi in the past two weeks. |
| The British embassy in Triploi is to suspend its operations on Monday, after which the remaining staff are to leave. It is relocating to neighbouring Tunisia for the time being. | |
| BBC political correspondent Chris Mason said: "I'm told the number of British nationals in the country is not huge - it is in the hundreds, rather than the thousands. Commercial routes to leave the country are still open. | BBC political correspondent Chris Mason said: "I'm told the number of British nationals in the country is not huge - it is in the hundreds, rather than the thousands. Commercial routes to leave the country are still open. |
| "The Foreign Office has already announced that it will suspend the operations of its embassy in Tripoli after fighting in the capital intensified, including near the embassy building itself. | "The Foreign Office has already announced that it will suspend the operations of its embassy in Tripoli after fighting in the capital intensified, including near the embassy building itself. |
| "But I'm told staff at the embassy are yet to leave - as they have been supervising the evacuation of those Britons who want to leave." | "But I'm told staff at the embassy are yet to leave - as they have been supervising the evacuation of those Britons who want to leave." |
| 'Assisted departure' | 'Assisted departure' |
| British ambassador to Libya Michael Aron has described the situation as "very sad" and said staff would return to the embassy "as soon as security allows". | British ambassador to Libya Michael Aron has described the situation as "very sad" and said staff would return to the embassy "as soon as security allows". |
| It is thought there are between 100 and 300 Britons still in Libya. | It is thought there are between 100 and 300 Britons still in Libya. |
| In a statement, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) said: "As the FCO has made clear, the UK Government will provide assisted departure for a number of UK nationals before suspending consular operations on Monday. | In a statement, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) said: "As the FCO has made clear, the UK Government will provide assisted departure for a number of UK nationals before suspending consular operations on Monday. |
| "For operational reasons we will not discuss further details including whether, and in what ways, the MoD could support these efforts." | |
| The Foreign Office has said a limited number of commercial flights are still leaving Libya but warned flight schedules could change without notice. | The Foreign Office has said a limited number of commercial flights are still leaving Libya but warned flight schedules could change without notice. |
| On Wednesday, British Airways suspended flights to and from Tripoli up to and including 5 August because of the security situation at the country's main international airport. | On Wednesday, British Airways suspended flights to and from Tripoli up to and including 5 August because of the security situation at the country's main international airport. |
| Land routes also remain open but the Foreign Office said "the security situation can change very quickly". | Land routes also remain open but the Foreign Office said "the security situation can change very quickly". |
| Timeline: Libya after Gaddafi | Timeline: Libya after Gaddafi |
| February 2011: Arrest of human rights campaigner sparks protests | February 2011: Arrest of human rights campaigner sparks protests |
| March-August 2011: Rebels backed by Nato air attacks capture large parts of Libya | March-August 2011: Rebels backed by Nato air attacks capture large parts of Libya |
| October 2011: Col Gaddafi is captured and killed. The main opposition group, the National Transitional Council (NTC), declares Libya officially liberated | October 2011: Col Gaddafi is captured and killed. The main opposition group, the National Transitional Council (NTC), declares Libya officially liberated |
| January 2012: Clashes erupt between former rebel forces in Benghazi. Following months see continuing instability as rival militias battle for power and resources in both east and west Libya | January 2012: Clashes erupt between former rebel forces in Benghazi. Following months see continuing instability as rival militias battle for power and resources in both east and west Libya |
| September 2012: US ambassador is killed when armed men storm US consulate in Benghazi | September 2012: US ambassador is killed when armed men storm US consulate in Benghazi |
| November 2012: New government led by liberal figure Ali Zeidan sworn in | November 2012: New government led by liberal figure Ali Zeidan sworn in |
| May 2013: Government offices besieged by militiamen | May 2013: Government offices besieged by militiamen |
| August 2013: Rebels begin months-long blockade of oil terminals | August 2013: Rebels begin months-long blockade of oil terminals |
| October 2013: PM Ali Zeidan briefly abducted by militiamen | October 2013: PM Ali Zeidan briefly abducted by militiamen |
| November 2013: Libyan army clashes with Islamist fighters | November 2013: Libyan army clashes with Islamist fighters |
| February 2014: Protests break out after Libyan parliament refuses to disband itself after its mandate expires | February 2014: Protests break out after Libyan parliament refuses to disband itself after its mandate expires |
| March 2014: PM Ali Zeidan is sacked by parliament | March 2014: PM Ali Zeidan is sacked by parliament |
| June 2014: New parliament elected. Due to hold first meeting this month | June 2014: New parliament elected. Due to hold first meeting this month |
| Full timeline | Full timeline |
| Six days ago, the Foreign Office said Britons should leave Libya immediately because of growing instability and advised against all travel there. | Six days ago, the Foreign Office said Britons should leave Libya immediately because of growing instability and advised against all travel there. |
| On Friday, the Foreign Office repeated its advice for Britons to leave "due to the more intense and more widespread fighting in Tripoli, and greater instability throughout Libya". | On Friday, the Foreign Office repeated its advice for Britons to leave "due to the more intense and more widespread fighting in Tripoli, and greater instability throughout Libya". |
| Most western countries have now withdrawn diplomats from Libya. | Most western countries have now withdrawn diplomats from Libya. |
| Mr Aron said a temporary office would be set up in Tunisia. | Mr Aron said a temporary office would be set up in Tunisia. |
| Are you a British citizen living in Libya? Are you planning to leave? You can share your views and experiences with us by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk | Are you a British citizen living in Libya? Are you planning to leave? You can share your views and experiences with us by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk |